EZLN Movement

Since New Year’s Day, 1994, The Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) has been fighting for recognition of the rights of indigenous people in the Mexican state of Chiapas, where poverty levels and marginalization are among the highest in the country. Zapitistas and Mexican government eventually signed a peace pact, but the group’s demands were never met. Subsequently, the Zapatistas formed their own justice, health and education systems in several communities called “caracoles” which are independent of local government.